Dish washing machine



March 17, 1959 Filed Sept. 13, 1955 J. B. KIRBY v DISH WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR v James B-Kirby MQML 242W ATTORNEYS March 1959 J. B. KlRB Y 2,877,778

- DISH WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept 13, 1955 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 7 INVENTOR E5. 5 Jams B. Kirby ATTORNEYS March 17, 1959 J. B. KIRBY DISH WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1955 INVENTOR James B- Kirby gmg gw 12w ATTORNEYS March 17, 1959 J. B. KIRBY 2,877,778

DISH WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .1 am-g m B F1 1H ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 6] James B. Kirby March 17, 1959 J, B. KI'RBY 2,877,778

DISH WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR James B.K irby ATTORNEYS Thisinvention relates to dish washing-machines, and particularly to washing machines of-the type in which The machineof the present inventionhasrahousing thatprovides a Washing chamber thatpis 'a-daptedto receive a'rack-carrying dishes to ,be washed, thathasa water retaining bottom and ;that is provided with-means zfor throwing water upwardly from the bottom ofthe Washing chamber against the dishes. -Means is provided for throwingwater upathigh velocity from the bottom of the washing;chamber, for directing waterparticles at various angles against'the surfaces of'the dishes vto ,be Y cleaned, ;for :draining water from the bottom of the washing chamber and for delivering measured quantities of. hot-water to1the washing chamber.

Introduction of dish racks into ;-the washing chamber :and removahofracks therefrom is facilitated .by providing .a doorthat opensto a'horizontal position and that has a track thereon that alines with a rack supporting trackinthe Washing chamber when the door is :open to enable a rackto be placed on the door and slid into the washing chamber orto he slid from the washing chamber. onto thedoor.

vA simple, manually operable mechanism.is;,provided 'for actuating a drain valve in the'bottom of the washing chamber and toactuate valves in a. liquid supply tank ,to

discharge a :measured quantity of water from a aneasur- I 'ing chamber. in the tank-into-the-.sump .ianditoirefillthe measuring chamber While thedrainrvalve remains closed.

The spraying or spatteri-ng device comprises an im- -peller of generally "conicahformwhich throws-the liquid United States Patent :theadishes are cleansed by subjecting themto a spray of I --hot water.

upwardly in a substantially conical upwardly flaring stream and that is sol designed that it pumps :1 continuous stream of liquid even whendtslower end projects only a small fraction of an inch intoithelliquid. Ardistributor which is preferably rotatable has a series of angularly spaced deflector vanes=that are in'the path'of the conical stream thrown-upwardlybyithe impeller to break up the stream :and deflect .particles 1 to all :parts .of the (dish -supporting rack.

Thesimpeller isdriven: athighjspeed and is; designed to substantial size traveling .at .high velocity are directed at various angles. againstzall ;of the soiledxsurfacesto be cleaned. The ability of .the impeller to pump from a or water only suificient to'insuresufiicient 'drainagerfrom the "dishes and from the walls of the washing chamber to maintain enough waterin'therbottomofrthe washing chamber'to provide uninterrupted pumping'action.

important objects of :the invention :are vto .providea machine -:which performs .the :cleaning operation in .a

very short period of time, 'todprovide a:machine which performs the :cleaning operation with a very small quanapu-mp continuously at :a rapid zrate soi that particlesaof 2,877,778 Rjatented Mar. 17, 1959 titysof water, .to provide. a .machine in which racks of -.;dishes.ca-n .be quickly and easilyentered into orremoved v.fro'rnsthewashing chamber, and to .pr0videra machine .havingia highly -eflicient spraying mechanism.

:Ibis-also anobjectof the-invention to provide ant mpeller that maintainsa constant Tdischargeof waterupswardly from the bottom vof .the washing chamber even when the depth of the liquid in .the chamber .is very slight. i

.- -Reference .should be had toethe;accompanyingdrawings forming a; part of this specification, in which:

,scale, .takenthroughcthecentral drain opening and. drain spoutratthe, bottom of the washing chamber;

:F-ig. 5 (is -a sectionsimilar to; Fig. .4, showing the drain valve in open position; g i

Fig. 6 Ba top plan '-view of theliquid;impeller with a segment :broken away: and shown in; horizontal section;

-E ig; 7- is a=sideelevation of the impeller;

Big. 8 isa plan=viewof the rotary .deflectorinto which nthe wateris thrown by the iinpeller;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of theirotary deflector;

@E ig- .10 is a transverse 'vertical section taken-ion the lineindicated.-atr10-10tin Fig. 1;

fig. :11 is a .-fra-gmentary central .vertical section taken .on :the line indicated, at 11 -.11'in Fig. 10;

fig. .12 is :a fragmentary :vertical section taken on..the

linefindicated rat. 12-42 inFig. 14 and showing-the heater controlling float;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the liquid supply tank, takenonthe line indicated at-1313 .in Fig. .10;

Fig. l'4-is an end elevation-of-the liquid supply tank mounted in the .rear .endof-{the washer housing;

:Fig. 15 .is a fragmentary horizontal section :taken 'on the line indicatediat 15%15,in-Fig. 14;

I Fig. \16Iis a view showing in: :vertical section .the :disk valve assembly employed to control the discharge .of liquid fromth'esupply'tank; I

Big. 17 is .a section taken on the-line indicated .at 17-17 in'Fig. -16; a 3

liig. 18 :is $8, wiringdiagram showing thescircuit controlling the waterheater and'the impeller driving motor; I Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the yalvewontrolling ever; 1

Fig, .20 ista section itaken on thelline indicated at v20-20 in Fig. 19; v -Fig.-,21 is agplan view-of the'valveoperatingshaft and the i-valve actuating connections;

Fig. 22 is a section taken on the line .indicatedat 22-22 in Fig..21;

liig. 23 is a section taken on the line.in'dicated at 2 3 2 3lin.-Fig..2l;

Fig. 24 -is ,a fragmentary front elevation of ;.the top portion of the housing door;

Fig. 25 is a section taken on the ,line, indicated :at .2525-in-F ig..24; and

Fig. 26 is-a plan view of the combineddoor lock and motor control element.

In the accompanying drawing the invention .is shown iappliedto a portable dish washing unit :of ,a size to "be iconvenientlyxplaced on the drain board-ofja kitchens'ihk, the machine having a housing that :provides-a chamber -to receive a rack of dishes and that is provideduwith a bottom that provides azrelatively :shallow liquidretraining sump. The bottom 1 of thewashing chamber is preferably dished to facilitate drainage and, as herein shown, the bottom of the housing which forms the sump is of rectangular form and slants downwardly from a marginal rim 2 to a drain opening 3 which opens to a drain spout 4. The drain opening 3, which may be provided in any part of the bottom 1 suitable for drainage,

is opened and closed by suitable means such as a vertically movable disk valve 5 and the drain spout 4 may be provided-with an extension in the form of a flexible hose 6 through which water from the washing chamber may be discharged into the sink basin.

The washer housing'has side walls 7 attached at their 4 lower edges to the rim 2 and connected by an arched top wall 8. The housing has a detachable rear wall 9 and a partition 10 parallel to the rear wall 9 and spaced inwardly therefrom to provide a narrow compartment 11 at the rear end of the housing. The portion of the housing forwardly of the partition 10 provides a washing chamber while the compartment 11 receives a liquid supply tank 12 through which water may be delivered to the washing chamber. The tank 12 is supported upon the lower portion of the partition 10 which is bent rearwardly near the bottom 1 to provide a horizontal tank supporting portion 13 and a downwardly extending flange 14 that overlies the inner face of the rim 2. The front wall of the housing is in the form of a door 15 that is connected at its lower edge to the rim 2fby a hinge 16 which per mits the door to swing from its vertical closed position to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 where it is supported by the hinge.

A track for slidably supporting wire racks upon which,

the dishes to be washed are placed is formed by a pair 'of parallel horizontal rods 17 that are positioned a short distance above the bottom 1. The rods 17 are slidably supported at their rear ends in brackets 18 attached'to =the partition 10 and extendingbelow the tank supporting portion 13 of the partition. The forward ends of the rods 1 17 are connected by hinges 19 to a pair of track rods 20 supported on the inner face of the door 15 by means of posts 21. The posts 21 are of a height such that when the door is in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, the track rods 20 will be in horizontal alinement with the rods 17 so that a rack containing dishes to be washed can be set upon the track rods 20 and pushed into the washing chamber, after which the door-15 may be swung to its vertical closed position. The movement of the door 15 to its closed position will lift the hinge 19 slightly while supporting dishes of various shapes and sizes, a sufficient number of racks being provided to accommodate a desired number of dishes. In the accompanying drawing a rack is shown which has bottom cross wires 23 bent to provide shoulders 24 engaging sides of the rods 17 and20 to guide the rack as it is moved into or out of the washing compartment. The rack 22 has inclined upwardly extending wires 25 on the sides thereof which provide supports for plates, saucers or similar dishes and which are provided with book portions 26 at their lower ends for supporting the dishes with the rims thereof resting on the inclined wires 25. The top of the rack may be provided with suitable cup or tumbler supporting portions 27, the rack 22 being designed to support the dishes with their soiled faces disposed to receive the impact of water sprayed upwardly from the central portion of the bottom 1. Other racks suitable for supporting silverware, pots, pans or the like, may be provided.

The machine is supported on short supporting legs 28 of a length just sufficient to support the drain spout and other controlling and operating parts clear of a sink drain board, and a handle 29 is provided on the top 8 by means of which the machine may be lifted onto a sink drainboard or removed therefrom.

Measured charges of hot water are delivered from the tank 12 into the washing chamber for rinsing and dish washing operations and, in order to provide for delivery of measured amounts 'of water, the tank is provided with top and bottom walls 30 and 31 and a horizontal partition 32 intermediate the top and bottom thereof, the partiion 32 dividing the tank into upper and lower compartments 33 and 34. The bottom wall 31 and partition 32 are provided with central openings 35 and 36 which are controlled by disk valves 37 and 38 which may be operated to alternately open and close the openings 35 and 36 to deliver water from the lower compartment 34 to the washing chamber and from the upper compartment 33 to the compartment 34.

Inlet and outlet fittings 39 and 40 are provided on the top wall 30 of the tank to which are connected a supply conduit 41'and a drain conduit 42. The supply conduit 41 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of water supply such as a sink hot water faucet as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the drain conduit 42 extends downwardly in the compartment 11 through the bottom of the housing and is connected to the drain spout 4 so that any overflow from the tank 12 is dis charged through the spout 4 into the sink basin. The conduit 42 is preferably a flexible hose that has a tight fit in the' opening through the bottom of the housing. to prevent leakage.

The valves 37 and 38 are so connected that when one is in open position the other is in closed position. As herein shown, the valves 37 and 38 are mounted on a vertical valve stem 45 which extends through the bottom of the sump, a rubber sealing grommet 46 being provided in the opening through which the stem 45 extends. The stem 45 is guided for vertical movement in the grommet 46 and in a spider 47 attached to the partition 32 and overlying the opening 36. The valves 37 and 38 have elastic rubber hub portions 48 and 49 which are in sealing engagement with the valve stem 45. To facilitate assembly of the valves on the stem 45 within the tank 12, the valves 37 and 38 are slidably mounted on the stem 45 between upper and lower collars 50 and 51 fixed to the stem 45 and the valves 37 and 38 are held in engagement with the collars 50 and 51 by means of a removable spacer sleeve 52, which, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, is formed of resilient material and is open at one side to permit it to be sprung onto or off of the stem 45. As best shown in Fig. 11, the valves 37 and 38 are provided with marginal sealing rings 53 and 54 of a suitable packing material which engage with similar sealing rings 55 and 56 attached to the bottom wall 31 and partition 32 around the openings 35 and 36.

A coil spring 57 interposed between the spider 47 and the upper collar 50 on the valve stem 45 normally holds the valve stem 45 in the position shown in Fig. 11 in which the bottom opening '35 is closed by the valve 37 and the valve 38 is spaced downwardly from the opening 36 to provide free communication between the upw per compartment 33 and the lower compartment 34. The

valves 5, 37 and 38 are in the form of flat disk valves of substantial size which have substantial vertical movement to permit rapid flow of water from the sump to the drain, from the heating and measuring compartment 34 to the sump, and from the upper compartment 33 of the tank to the compartment 34.

As-best shown in Figs. 10 and 13, an electrical resistance heater 58 is provided in the compartment 34 and this heater is of sufiicient capacity to rapidly heat the water in the compartment 34 to a temperature suitable for rinsing. The heater 58 is supported by a head 59 that is detachably secured in a hung ring 60 at one end of the tank 12. The head 59 is held in place .in the bung ring .60 by means of rotary wedge locks 61 that engage internal grooves 62 in the ring to lock the head in place and to press the same against a sealing ring 63 interposed between the head .59 and the bung ring 60 as shown in Fig. 15. The head 59 is of a diameter slightly greater than that of the valve disks 37 and 38 so that the valve stem 45 and valve disks 37 and 38 may be assembled within the tank before insertion of the heater 58 and before the tank is placed in the compartment 11.

The heating element 58 has terminals 64 on the outer face of the head 59 and these terminals are connected to a control switch 65 mounted on the tank 12 above the bung ring 60. It is desirable that the heater 58 be supplied with current only when the compartment 34 of. the tank is full of water and to this end the switch 65 is controlled by a float 66 in the compartment 34 which is attached to an arm 67 that extends through and is rockably supported in a rubber sealing grommet 68 in the end wall of the tank 12. The arm 67 engages a lever 69 that is connected to the switch 65 to close the same when the float 66 is lifted to a predetermined level in the compartment 34.

As herein shown, the opening 3 is located centrally of the bottom 1 and the drain valve 5 is supported on a post 70 that is guided in a vertical bore extending through internal and external bosses 71 and 72 formed in the bottom-wall of the spout 4 and the valve 5 in its closed position engages with a sealing ring 73 on the under side of, the housing bottom that surrounds the drain ,opening 3. When the opening 3 is centrally located the valve '5 .mayserve as a support for the'water throwing means.

Asherein shown, a vertical shaft 74 is journaledgin the post'70 and projects through the disk 5 and below the lower. end of the post 70. An impeller 75 of generally conical form is attached to the upper end of the shaft 74 with its small .end closely adjacent the bottom of the sump, which in the machine herein shown is the top-face of the disk 5. A grooved pulley 76 is attached to the.

lower end of the shaft 74 and a belt 77 provides a driving connection between the pulley 76 and an electric motor 78 supported on the bottom of the housing. The impeller 75 is designed to discharge a substantially conical stream of water in an upward direction from the pool of water-in the washing chamber and to continuously deliver a stream of water at'high velocityhuntil the depth of thepool is reduced to a small fraction of the height of the impeller. As herein shown, the impeller is provided with circumferentially spaced upwardly extending helically inclined grooves 79 which are of greatest depth. intermediate the ends of the impeller, and which ,gradually decrease in depth toward the upper and lower .ends of the impeller, terminating short of the top and impeller axis the faces 80 and 81 of each groove are disposed'at opposite angles to the impeller radius in said plane that passes through the line of intersection of the groove faces, the narrow face 80 being at smaller angles tosuch radius than the face 81. The grooves 79 oc-v cupy the major portion of the periphery of the impeller and increase in width from their bottom to the top ends so. that thegrooves provide ribs between them with narrow edges 82 in the cone surface. The grooves 79 can be conveniently cut by means of a crown milling cut- ,ter having a circular row of teeth perpendicular to its plane of rotation and positioned with respect-tothe impeller blank so that the teeth enter and leave the conical face of the blank adjacent the ends thereof, the grooves :so. cut. being deepest intermediate their vends and ofincreasing helical inclination toward their u per ends, During operation of the machine the impeller is rotated at high speed in'the direction ofdownward helicalinclination of the grooves, which in theimpcllerherein shown is in the clockwise direction, causing water to fiow upwardly in the grooves 79 and to be discharged from the upper ends thereof. Since the wideupper .ends of the grooves 79 merge into the continuous circular periphery .at the upper end of the impeller, the water is discharged in. a continuous substantially conical stream.

In order to direct the water thrown upwardly by 'the impeller to all portions of a rack'of dishes supported above the impeller, a distributor is provided above the impeller which serves to directparticles of water traveling at high velocity at various angles toward the dishes supported in the rack. The distributor. is supported above the impeller by means of a narrow strap bracket 83 that extends across the opening 3, the bracket '83 having its central portion horizontally disposed and having end flanges 84that are secured to the bottom of the sump by means of screws 85. The distributor is provided with elongated arcuate deflecting vanes 86 and circular dished deflecting vanes 87 that are angularly spaced about a central vertical axis and in the path of the liquid stream thrown up by the impeller 75. The distributor is preferablyrotatably mounted and, as herein shown, the vanes 86 and 87 are connected byv radial arms 88 and 89 to a hub 90 that is journaled on a vertical post 91 secured to, the horizontal portion of the bracket 83 by means of a clamping. bolt 92 substantially in axial alinement with the impeller 75.

In order to obtain a more uniform spraying or spatteringof the liquid, it is desirable that the.distributor berotated at a speed relatively slow as compared to the rotation of the impeller and, as hereinshown, the rotation of the deflector is effected by the impact of thenwateragainst the vanes 86 and 87. The bearing post 91 has a hubsupporting flange 93, and a retaining washer.94 ofa diameter greater than the bearing portion of the. postis secured to the upper end of the post by the bolt 92. Impact of the water thrown upwardlyby the impeller 75 againstthe vanes 86 and 87 tends to rotate thesame on the-post 91 and this rotation is impeded by means of :a'springbrak'e shoe 95 that bears against the post 91 and thattis carried by an arm 96 connected to the hub 90 by means of a vertical pivot 97. The arm 96 carries a set screw 98 that.en-

gages with a pin 99 attached to the hub 90 and that may be adjusted to regulate the pressureof the brake shoe 95 against the post 91 to provide the desired resistanceto turning movement which will cause the deflector assembly to rotate atthedesired speed during the washingoperation. The vanes 86 and 87 are disposed in the path of the generally ,conicalstream of water delivered by the impeller 75 and serve to deflect water particles of substantial size and traveling-at high velocity toward the exposed faces of the dishes on thevdish supporting rack.

A portion of the spray created by the impeller'and distributor bombards .the interior of the housing above the dish rack and serves to dislodge any food particles carried by the spray to the housing wall and the constant'flowof water along the interior of the rounded top. 8 .keepsthe interior of the housing clean.

For operating the valves 5, 37 and 38. inrproper sequence, an operating shaft 100 isprovided beneaththe sump which extends horizontally from thefront to the rear of the housing, the shaft being supported at its ends in front and rear bearing brackets 101 and 102 attached tothe housing and in a central bearing bracket .103 that is integral with the discharge spout 4. Adjacentthe bracket 102 an arm 104 is operablyconnected to the valve stem .45 and rotatably mounted ,on vthe shaft 100. An actuating collar fixed to the shaft 100 serves-.toaswing the arm 104. upwardly to lift the valve stem 45 and open the valve 37 and closethe valve 38 when the-shaft 100 .isturned in onedirectlon fromits normal or neutral posi- 7 tion. The arm 104 and collar 105 have lateral projections 106 and 107 that have faces that interengage upon turning movement of the shaft 100 in one direction to swing the operating arm 104 upwardly, the opposite faces of the projections being spaced sufficiently to allow the shaft to have a substantial turning movement in the opposite direction before the projections engage. The valve stem 45 extends through a downwardly flaring opening 108 in the arm 104 and has collars 109 and 110 above and below the arm 104, the upper collar 109 preferably being adjustable to obtain the desired lifting movement of the valve stem 45.

A lever 111 that is pivoted on the shaft 100 adjacent the central bearing 103, is provided with a yoke arm 112 that has trunnions 113 engaging a collar 114 screwed on the lower end of the post 70. The lever 111 has an arm 115 against which a spring 116 interposed between the arm 115 and the spout 4 exerts a pressure in a direction to normally hold the valve in its elevated closed position. An actuating member 117 is clamped to the shaft 100 and has arms 118 and 119 overlying and underlying the yoke arm 112. The arm 118 overlying the yoke arm 112 is positioned close to the yoke arm so that upon turning movement of the shaft 100 in one direction the yoke arm 112 will be swung downwardly to open the valve 5. The arm 119 is spaced angularly from the underside of the arm 102 so that the shaft 100 can turn through a substantial angle before the arm 119 engages the arm 112. The arm 119 may be provided with a set screw 120 which regulates the amount of lost motion between the arm 119 and the arm112. The lost motion connection between the valve stem 45 and the actuating arm 104 permits the shaft 100 to turn in one direction to open the drain valve 5 while the valve 37 is held in closed position by the spring 57. The lost motion connection between the valve actuating arm 112 and the arm 119 fixed to the shaft 100 permits the shaft 100 to turn in the opposite direction to open the valve 37 and close the valve 38 while the valve 5 remains closed.

The shaft 100 is operated by means of a lever 121 that is secured to the forward end of the shaft 100 and that is movable to the right or to the left of a vertical neutral position to fill or drain the sump. The lever 121 is connected at its lower end to the shaft 100 by means of a horizontal pivot 122 that is disposed transversely of the shaft 100 and a spring 123 mounted in the end of the shaft 100 presses outwardly on the lever 121 below the pivot 122 to hold the upper end of the lever 121 against an arcuate plate 124 secured to the housing above the shaft 100. The plate 124 has a flange 125 against which the lever 121 bears and the flange 125 may be notched to retain the lever in adjusted positions. As shown inFig. 19, the lever 121 is movable clockwise from a central neutral vertical position to a fill position, which causes the valve stem 45 to be lifted, opening the valve 37 and closing the valve 38. The lever 121 may also be moved counterclockwise to the empty position, which turns the shaft 100 in a direction to open the drain valve 5 while the valve 37 remains closed. To initially supply the washing chamber with water, in starting the machine into operation the lever 121 is swung to the fill position and then returned to neutral position, after which the motor 78 is started into operation to initiate the washing operation. After each washing operation the lever 121 is first shifted to empty position to drain the washing chamber, then swung to the fill position to deliver a measured charge of water from the heating chamber 34 into the washing chamber.

As shown in Fig. 25, the door 15 has a flange 126 at its top edge that enters between the top wall 8 of the housing and a keeper 127 attached to the underside of the top 8. The keeper 127 has a down-turned flange 128 against which the inner face of the door 15 engages when in its closed position. A lock member 129 is provided on the door which can be turned into and out of locking position, the lock member 129 having a cylindrical projection 130 that projects through and is rotatable in an opening formed in the door 15. Inside the door the member 129 has a peripheral rib 131 extending partially around it which has a flat outer face 132 which engages the inner face of the flange 128 to lock the door in closed position. A knob 133 is attached to the projection 130 by means of a screw 134 to enable the locking member 129 to be turned from door looking to door releasing position. The locking rib 132 has a helically inclined inner face 135 that engages with the forward end of a rod 136 that extends from adjacent the keeper flange 128 to the compartment 11 at the rear of the housing where it engages a motor switch 137 that controls the electric driving motor 78. The rod 136 is slidably supported at the rear end in the partition 10 and at its forward end to brackets 138 and 139 attached to the top wall 8 of the housing. The rod 136 is normally held in a position in which the motor switch 137 is open by means of a spring 140 that is interposed between a collar 141 on the rod 136 and the inner bracket 138 to press the collar 141 against the inner side of the outer bracket 139. As shown in Fig. 24, the knob 133 has a pointer 142 which serves to indicate the position of the locking member. In the position indicated open the door is unlocked and the motor switch is held open by the spring 140. In the off position the door is locked but the motor switch is still open. In the position on the door is locked and the motor switch is closed.

The heater 58 and motor 78 are so connected that the heater will operate only while the motor is running. As shown in Fig. 18, the heater 58 and motor 78 are con"- nected in parallel to a source of current, the switch 137 is in series with both the heater and the motor and the switch 65 is in series with the heater 58 in the parallel heater circuit, so that the heater 58 is energized only when both switches 65 and 137 are closed, and the motor 78 will be operated whenever the switch 137 is closed.

To facilitate assembly, the rear wall 9 of the housing is preferably detachable so that the tank 12 can be removed from the housing or inserted into the housing. The valve stem 45 and valves 37 and 38 can be assembled within the tank when the tank is removed from the housing by inserting the valves and valve stem through the end opening in which the heater element is detachably mounted. After the valves and the heater have been assembled in the tank, the tank may be inserted in the housing, the valve stem 45 being inserted through the opening in the bottom of the housing as the tank is placed in the compartment 11. The tank 12 is of a length somewhat less than the width of the housing to provide space for the switch 137, the terminals 64 and discharge tube 42. The portion of the compartment 11 above the tank 12 provides a space for the switch 137 and is of sufficient capacity to accommodate the filler tube 41 and extension cords when the machine is not in use.

In operation the machine is set upon a kitchen sink drain board with the discharge tube 6 positioned to deliver into the sink basin and the filling tube 41 is secured to a water supply source such as a sink hot water faucet as shown in Fig. 2. The valve control lever 121 will be in its vertical neutral position, the valves 5 and 37 will be closed and the valve 38 will be open as shown in Figs. 4 and 11.

To introduce a rack of dishes to be washed into the washing chamber, the door 15 is swung to its open horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and a dish rack 22 with dishes thereon is placed upon the track rods 20 on the door and slid from the rods 20 onto the rods 17 within the washing chamber, after which the door 15 is swung to closed position.

Either before or after the rack 22 is placed in the washer chamber the water faucet is opened to supply water to the tank 12. Since the valve 37 is closed, the water will fill the tank and overflow through the conduit 42. If water'hot enough for washing is available the water will be allowed to run from the hot water faucet until the water discharging into. the sink is at a temperature suitable for washing Afterthe tank 12 is filled with water at a temperature suitable for washing, the lever 121 will be moved to the right to fill position. This movement of the lever 121 will swing the arm 104 to lift the valve stem 45, opening the valve 37 and closing the valve 38, allowing the contents of the lower compartment 34 of the tank 12 to flow into the washing compartment. The lost motion between the arm 119 and the yoke arm 112 permits the valve to be held in closed position by the spring 116 during the movements of the lever 121 from its upright neutral position to the fill position and back to upright position. Upon return of the lever 121 to neutral position, valve 37 is closed and valve 38 is opened by action of the spring 57, allowing the compartment 34 to be again filled with water. After the first filling of the tank 12 the faucet valve controlling delivery of water to the tank will be set to permit only a slow flow of water to'the washing machine suflicient to fill the tank 12 during the washing operation.

The knob 133 is then turned to the on position to lock the door 15 and start the motor 78 to drive the impeller 75 at high speed. Rotation of the impeller 75 throws water upwardly in a conical stream which strikes the vanes 86 and 87 causing liquid particles to be projected upwardly in all directions at high velocity. Particles of .hot water of substantial size bombarding the soiled faces of dishes such as plates, saucers, cups, bowls orthe like quickly dislodge material adhering to the dishes and the water drains from the dishes and from the walls of :thehousing back into the sump 'from which water is being thrown by theimpeller.

The heating element 58 is designed to heat'water'in the compartment 34 to the temperature required for the rinsingoperation, during the period of time required for the washing operation, so that each change of water is delivered-to the washing chamber at a temperature suitable forefficient rinsing.

Each rack of dishes is subjected first'to a washing operation and then to a rinsing operation. In the rinsing operation the dishes are bombarded with particles of clean hot water for a relatively short period of time, after which the knob 133 is turned to release the door 15 and stop the. motor 78. The door is then opened, the rack of dishesis withdrawn from the washing chamber and set aside. to dry, after which another rack of soiled dishes is inserted, the door 15 closed, and the knob 133 turned to lock the door and start the :heater 58 and motor 78 into operation, the charge of hot water previously used for rinsing being now used for washing. Beforeclosing the door after each rack of dishes is insertedinto the washing chamber, a measured quantity of a suitable detergent may be added to the water in the sump to increase the cleansing action. The subsequent rinsing with clean hot water removes all traces of the detergent from the dishes.

ln order to avoid waste of current and overheating of the water, the switches 65 and 137 control the heater 58 in such manner that the heater 58 operates only when the measuring compartment 34 contains a predetermined volume of water and the motor 78 is running. This control-of the heater prevents application of heat to the water initially delivered into the tank 12 and unless water hot enough for efiicient washing is obtainable from the sink'hot water faucet, the impeller may be driven'with the sump empty for a period of time sufiicient to effect the heating of the water to a temperature desirable'for Washing before delivering the first charge of water into the washing chamber, or if desired the first rack of .dishes may be subjected to two washing operations in order to insure proper cleansing.

\ The impeller 75 is so designed that no enclosing wall is required for directing the liquid stream created by rotation of the impeller and, consequently, the watenimpelling means does not interfere with free drainage, and screening of the water flowing to the impeller is :not necessary. Since. pieces of food dislodged from dishes will be carried by the water to the impeller, the impeller has a grinding efiect, comminuting such pieces of food and thoroughly mixingthe food particles with the water so that they are carried away'with the water when it is drained from the washing chamber.

If desired, the draining and filling operations may be performed without stopping the motor 78 and this may in some instances be desirable in order to insure c0mplete discharge of solid food particles from the sump or to obtain greater heatingof the water in the tank 12 when cold water is being supplied to the machine.

Since the water thrown upwardly by the impeller drains back into the sump from which it is drawn by the impeller and, since the impeller is designed to'draw water from a very shallow pool in the sump, only a very small volume of water is required. In a portable machine such as herein illustrated, less than one pint 'of water has been found adequate for the washing opera tion. The impeller 75, in a portable unit such as herein shown, is of small diameter and is preferably driven by a high speed motor. For an impeller of 1%" diameter at its upper end a rotational speed of ten thou said R. P. M. has been found suitable. While the ma? chine of the present invention has been found to be very etfective in small portable washing units, it may obviously be embodied in machines of larger capacity requiring a larger volume of water and an impeller of.larger size. Since the peripheral speed of a rotor for a given R. P. M. is proportional to its diameter, the larger rotors required for machines of greater capacity may .be driven at a lower R. P. M.

While it is apparent that the Washing and rinsing'periods may be varied considerably, it has been found that a period of about forty seconds is usually adequate for the washing operation and that a period of about fifteen seconds is usually adequate for the rinsing operation.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

WhatI claim is:

1. A dish washing machine comprising a housing having a washing chamber with a bottom that is adaptedlto retain a pool of liquid and that is provided with a drain opening, said housing having means for supporting a dish rack in said chamber above said bottom and an opening through which a dish rack may be entered thereinto or removed therefrom, a valve controlling said drain opening, a door for closing said dish rack receiving opening, a liquidsupply tank carried by said housing, said tank having a measuring compartment, a heater for supplying heat to liquid in said measuring compartment, means for delivering the contents of said measuring compartment to said chamber, means including an impeller for drawing liquid from said pool and spattering the'same upwardly in said chamber, meansfor driving said impeller, a float in said measuring compartment, means connecting said float to control said heater to prevent operation of said heater when there is less than a predetermined volume of liquid in said compartment, a manually operable member controlling operation of said'driving means, and means operably connecting saidmanually operable member to said'heater to prevent operation of saidheater except when said impeller is being driven.

2. A dish washing machine comprising a housing that has a washing chamber with a bottom that is provided with .a drain opening, said housing having means for supporting a dish rack in said chamber above said bottom and an opening through which a dish rack maybe entered thereinto or removed therefrom, a valvecon- .trollingcsaid drain-opening, a door for'closing said dish rack receiving opening, a liquid supply tank carried by said housing, said tank having a liquid measuring compartment, means for delivering the contents of said compartment to said chamber and for refilling said compartment, means including an impeller in said chamber for throwing liquid upwardly and scattering the same in said chamber, an electric heater in said measuring compartment, an electric motor having a driving connection to said impeller, a source of current, means connecting said heater and said motor in parallel to said source, a manually operable control switch in series with both the heater and the motor to prevent operation of the heater except during operation of the motor, a float in said compartment and a switch in series with said first mentioned switch and said heater in the parallel heater circuit and operated by said float to prevent operation of said heater when there is less than a predetermined volume of liquid in said compartment.

3. A dish washing machine comprising a housing having a washing chamber provided with a bottom that serves to retain a pool of liquid and that has a drain opening, means for supporting a dish rack in said chamber above said bottom, means for throwing liquid upwardly from said pool, a valve controlling said drain opening, means acting on said valve to yieldably hold it in closed position, a liquid supply tank carried by said housing and having a partition dividing it into upper and lower compartments, said lower compartment having an opening through which liquid is delivered to said chamber, said upper compartment having an opening through which liquid is delivered to said lower compartment, valves controlling said openings, means acting on said valves to yieldably hold the valve controlling delivery of liquid to said chamber in closed position and the valve controlling the delivery of liquid to said lower compartment in open position, a valve actuating shaft, means operated by the shaft when turned in one direction from a neutral position for opening said drain valve, and means operated by said shaft when turned in the opposite direction from said neutral position for opening said valve controlling delivery of liquid to said chamber to deliver the contents of said lower compartment into said washing chamber and closing said valve controlling delivery of liquid to said lower compartment.

4. A dish washing machine comprising a rectangular housing having a dished bottom forming a sump and provided with a drain opening, said housing having an opening at one end through which a dish supporting rack may be entered thereinto or removed therefrom, a closure for said opening, a vertically movable valve for opening and closing said drain opening, means acting on said valve to yieldably hold it in closed position, a liquid supply tank within said housing at the end thereof opposite said end opening, said tank having a partition dividing it into upper and lower compartments, said compartments having vertically alined outlet openings delivering to said lower compartment and to said washing chamber, respectively, a valve stem extending through said openings, two valve disks on said stern for opening and closing said alined openings, said disks being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between said alined openings, means acting on said valve stem to yieldably hold the same in a position where its lower disk closes the lower compartment outlet opening and the upper disk is spaced below the upper compartment outlet opening, a manually operable valve actuating shaft beneath said housing, means operated by said shaft when it is turned in one direction for opening said drain valve and when it is turned in the opposite direction to first release said drain valve and allow it to return to closing position and then to lift said valve stem to open said opening and close said partition opening, and means including an impeller in said sump for throwing water upwardly from said sump.

5. A dish washing machine comprising a housing hav- 12 ing a bottom dished to provide a liquid retaining sump and having a drain opening, said housing having means for supporting a dish rack above said sump, an opening through which a dish rack may be entered thereinto or removed therefrom and a closure for said opening, a valve for opening and closing said drain opening, an impeller of conical form rotatably mounted in said chamber with its small end lowermost and in said sump, said impeller having peripheral grooves extending upwardly and helically and decreasing in depth and increasing in width toward their upper ends, means for driving said impeller in the direction opposite that toward which said grooves incline to discharge a substantially conical stream of water, and a distributor rotatably mounted above and substantially in axial alinement with said impeller, said distributor having deflecting vanes which extend across the path of the conical liquid stream thrown upwardly by said impeller.

6. A dish washing machine comprising a housing having a bottom dished to provide a sump and having a drain opening, said housing having means for supporting a dish rack above said sump, an opening through which a dish rack may be entered thereinto or removed therefrom and a closure for said opening, a valve for opening and closing said drain opening, an impeller of conical form rotatably mounted in said chamber with its small end lowermost and closely adjacent said bottom, said impeller having peripheral grooves extending upwardly and helically and decreasing in depth and increasing in width toward their upper ends, means for driving said impeller in the direction opposite that toward which said grooves incline to discharge a substantially conical stream of water, and a distributor rotatably mounted above and substantially in axial alinement with said impeller, said distributor having radial arms and deflecting vanes of different sizes and shapes attached to the outer ends of said arms and in the path of the conical liquid stream thrown upwardly by said impeller.

7. In a dish washing machine having a housing with a bottom portion formed to retain a pool of liquid, means for discharging liquid upwardly in all directions from a pool in said bottom portion comprising a conical impeller mounted with its axis substantially vertical and with its small end lowermost, said impeller having angularly spaced grooves that extend helically at small inclinations to the vertical and that decrease in depth and increase in width toward the top of the impeller, means for driving said impeller to throw liquid upwardly in a substantially conical stream, and deflecting means comprising angularly spaced vanes disposed in the path of the liquid thrown up by said impeller.

8. In a dish washing machine having a housing with a. bottom portion formed to retain a pool of liquid, means for discharging liquid upwardly in all directions from a pool in said bottom portion comprising a conical impeller mounted with its axis substantially vertical and with its small end lowermost, said impeller having angularly spaced grooves that extend helically at small inclinations to the vertical and that decrease in depth and increase in width toward the top of the impeller, means for driving said impeller to throw liquid upwardly in a substantially conical stream, and deflecting means comprising angularly spaced vanes of different sizes and shapes disposed above and radially outwardly of said impeller in the path of liquid thrown upwardly by said impeller.

9. In a dish washing machine having a housing with a bottom portion formed to retain a pool of liquid, means for discharging liquid upwardly in the form of a spray from a pool in said bottom portion comprising a conical impeller mounted with its axis substantially vertical and with its small end lowermost, said impeller having angularly spaced grooves that extend helically at small inclinations to the vertical and that decrease in depth from their central portions toward the top and bottom of the impeller and that increase in width toward the top of the impellen'means for driving said impeller to throw liquid upwardly in a substantially conical stream, and a rotary distributor above said impeller and substantially coaxial therewith, said distributor having vanes disposed in the path of liquid thrown upwardly by said impeller.

10. In a dish washing machine having a housing with a bottom portion formed to retain a pool of liquid, means for discharging liquid upwardly from a pool in said bottom portion comprising a conical impeller mounted with its axis substantially vertical and with its small end lowermost, said impeller having angularly spaced grooves that extend helically at small inclinations to the vertical and that decrease in depth and increase in width toward the top of the impeller, means for driving said impeller to throw liquid upwardly in a substantially conical stream, a rotary distributor above said impeller and substantially coaxial therewith, said distributor having radial arms and vanes attached to the outer ends of said arms, extending laterally of said arms and disposed in the path of liquid thrown upwardly by said impeller to break up the liquid stream and direct portions thereof upwardly in all directions, and an adjustable brake for retarding rotation of said distributor.

11. In a machine of the character described, a sump for retaining a pool of liquid, a conical impeller mounted with its small end lowermost and positioned to extend into a pool of liquid in said sump, the peripheral face of said impeller having spaced longitudinally extending helically inclined grooves that are of greatest depth intermediate the top and bottom of the impeller, that gradually decrease in depth toward the upper and lower ends of the impeller and that gradually increase in width from their lower to their upper ends, and means for driving said impeller in the direction of downward helical inclination of said grooves to cause liquid to flow upwardly in said grooves and be discharged in a substantially conical stream.

12. In a machine of the character described, a sump for retaining a pool of liquid, a conical impeller mounted with its small end lowermost and positioned to extend into a pool of liquid in said sump, the peripheral face of said impeller having grooves that extend longitudinally substantially throughout the length thereof and at small helical inclinations, said grooves decreasing in depth toward the upper and lower ends and increasing in width toward their upper ends, each ofsaid grooves having faces that intersect along a line at the bottom thereof and that have opposite inclinations with respect to impeller radii intersecting said line, the groove face on the side toward which the groove is upwardly inclined being narrower and having less inclination with respect to said radii than the opposite groove face, and means for driving said impeller in direction of downward inclination of said grooves to cause liquid to flow upwardly in said grooves and be discharged in a substantially conical stream.

13. A dish washing machine comprising a housing having a washing chamber with a bottom that is adapted to retain a pool of liquid and that is provided with a drain opening, said housing having means for supporting a dish rack in said chamber above said bottom and an opening through which a dish rack may be entered thereinto or removed therefrom, a valve controlling said drain opening, a door for closing said dish rack receiving opening, a manually operable locking member for said door, a liquid supply tank carried by said housing, said tank having a measuring compartment, a heater for supplying heat to liquid in said measuring compartment, means for delivering the contents of said measuring compartment to said chamber, means including an impeller for drawing liquid from said pool and spattering the same upwardly in said chamber, means for driving said impeller, a float in said measuring compartment, means controlled by said float for preventing operation of said heater when there is less than a predetermined volume of liquid in said compartment, means operably connecting said locking member to said driving means to prevent operation thereof except when said door is locked, and means connecting said locking member to said heater to prevent operation of the heater except when said impeller is being driven.

14. In a machine of the character described, a sump for retaining a pool of liquid, an impeller having a conical periperal face mounted with its small end lowermost and positioned to extend into a pool of liquid in said sump, said peripheral face having circumferentially spaced grooves extending upwardly from adjacent its lower end that are inclined laterally in the same direction, said grooves increasing in depth upwardly from their lower ends to an intermediate portion thereof and increasing in width toward their upper ends, each inclined groove having angularly disposed upper and lower side faces that converge toward the impeller axis, said lower faces being narrower and disposed at less inclination to radii through the bottom of the grooves than said upper faces, and means for driving said impeller in the direction of downward inclination of the grooves to cause liquid to flow upwardly in said grooves and be discharged from the upper ends thereof.

15. In a machine of the character described, a sump for retaining a pool of liquid, an impeller having a conical peripheral face mounted with its small end lowermost and positioned to extend into a pool of liquid in said sump, said peripheral face having circumferentially spaced grooves extending upwardly from adjacent its lower end that are inclined laterally in the same direction, said grooves increasing in width toward their upper ends and occupying the major portion of the periphery of said impeller, and means for driving said impeller in the direction of downward inclination of the grooves to cause liquid to flow upwardly in said grooves and be discharged from the upper ends thereof.

16. In a machine of the character described, a housing having a sump for retaining a pool of liquid, a shaft extending upwardly into said sump, an impeller mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, said impeller having a downwardly tapering periperal face with its small end positioned to enter said pool, said peripheral face having circumferentially spaced grooved extending upwardly from adjacent its lower end that are inclined laterally in the same direction that are of greatest depth intermediate their ends, that decrease in depth toward their upper and lower ends and that increase in width toward their upper ends, and means for driving said shaft to turn said impeller in the direction of downward inclination of the grooves to cause liquid to flow upwardly in said grooves and be discharged from the upper ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,456 Wise Mar. 14, 1949 918,297 Duffy Apr. 13, 1909 1,946,181 Stoddard Feb. 6, 1934 2,254,269 Clark Sept. 2, 1941 2,257,436 Walker Sept. 30, 1941 2,304,438 Bilde Dec. 8, 1942 2,608,983 Idle Sept. 2, 1952 

